Internal combustion engine



Feb. 14, 1933. n-Z 1,897,897

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Oct. 16 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 14,1933. F. FRITZ :INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct.16, 1930 jwuentoz Want 3&1; v if V Feb. 14, 1933. FRITZ I 1,897,897

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Oct. 16, 1950 5 Sheets- Shed 3 FrizzFeb 14, 1933. F. FRBTZ INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Oct. 16, 1930 5Sheets-Sheet 4 Trunk. ra /2 Feb. 14, 1933.

F. FRITZ 1,897,897

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Opt. 16, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 amuletPatented Feb. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES FRANK FRITZ, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO,CANADA INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Application filed October 16, 1930.Serial No. 489,159.

This invention relates to improvements in internal combustion engines ofthe type including a multiplicity of cylinders arranged in tandem andthe invention comprises a single piston for each of the tandem cylindersadapted to be alternately acted upon by impluses from the explosiontaken into the cylinders by suction.

The invention further contemplates a nov- 19 el wrist pin constructionfor each of the pistons and connecting rods secured to each end of thewrist pins and having their opposite ends connected to throws on thecrank shaft whereby vibration and torsional strain on the crank shaftwill be prevented. The i'nven tion also comprises a water pump mountedparallel with the tandem cylinders for forcing a cooling liquid throughthe water jackets of the cylinders and preventing overheat- 20 ing whichis a common objection to this type of engine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel form of valvegearing including exhaust and intake valves in each of the tandemcylinders and the provision of a cam shaft driven from the crank shaftfor causing the alternate operation of the valves whereby one cylinderwill be taking in a m fresh charge of fuel supply while the oppositecylinder will be exhausting the burned ases.

D A still further object of this invention, is

to provide a novel form of cylinder block I? having overlapping boresfor allowing'space between the working cylinders for accommodating thefree ends of the wrist pins and the connecting rods. This form of cylinder block also presents novel advantages for readily removing thevalve gearing for repairs or for removing the pistons for the purpose ofcleaning the carbon thereon and replacement of parts.

The novel construction of the cylinder block also affords openings forthe reception of the ignition cables from opposite ends of the tandemcylinders to the distributor whereby the same will be protected againstwater and oil which has been found to be very detrimental to internalcombustion engines.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description forming a part of thisspecification and in which Figure I is a longitudinal side elevationpartly in section illustrating the cylinder block and the manner inwhich the tandem cylinders are disposed therein relative to the workingpistons. The cam shaft connection to the crank shaft is also illustratedat one end of the view illustrating the manner in which the connectingchain is housed within a portion of the cylinder block.

Figure II is a longitudinal front elevation illustrating the upperportion of a cylinder block broken away to illustrate the. manner ofarranging the cam shaft and valve rocker arm.

Figure III is a top elevation illustrating the arrangement of thecylinders relative to the block and showing the water cooling jacketsadjacent the cylinders for cooling the same. a

Figure IV is a longitudinal side elevation illustrat'ng the pistons andcylinder 7 heads removed from the block and also illustrating in crosssectional detail the manner in which the pistons are arranged forsliding en agement with the heads.

Figure F is a vertical cross section through thecylinder block showingthe invention enlarged and the arrangement of the double acting pistonsrelative to the cylinder block and tandem heads. 5

Figure VI is an enlarged side elevation il-' lustrating in detail one ofthe tandem cylinder heads removed from the cylinder block for thepurpose of illustrating the sealing or packing rings.

Figure VII is a transverse cross sectional view taken on line VIIVII ofFigure VI looking in the direction of the arrows showing theconstruction of the cylinder heads and the arrangement of the intake andexhaust. ports therein.

Figure VIII is a top elevation of the piston head removed from thecylinders showing the same enlarged and illustrating the arrangement ofthe intake and exhaust valves.

Figure IX is a longitudinal cross sectional view through the centralmostportion of the block illustrating the arrangement of the cylinders andthe corresponding water jacket for dissipating the heat from thecylinders.

Figure X is an enlarged side elevation of one of the double actingpistons removed from the cylinder block for the purpose of illustratingthe honeycomb arrangement on the periphery thereof.

Figure X1 is a vertical cross section of one of the pistons illustratingthe wrist pin bearing and the opposite skirted section of the pistons.

Figure XII is a side elevation illustrating the wrist pin and connectingrod in detail and showing the same enlarged.

Figure XIII is a vertical cross sectional view taken through thecylinder block, double acting pistons, and the removable cylinder headsfor illustrating the positioning of theintake and exhaust valves andspark plugs in the removable heads and also the water pump formed by therings on the double acting piston skirts.

Figure XIV is a vertical cross sectional view of one of the removablecylinder heads further illustrating the arrangement of the intake andexhaust valves and showing the same enlarged, and

Figure XV is a bottom elevation of one of the piston heads removedshowing in enlarged detail the construction of the frame.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of the invention and wherein like referencecharacters are employed throughout the several views, the referencecharacter 5 will generally be employed to designate an engine crank caseformed of a bottom section 6, a top section 7, and an intermediatesection 8. The three sections 6, 7 and 8 are held together by theadjoining flanges 9, 10, and 11, on the respective sections 6, 7, and 8.Formed on the upper edge of the crank case section 7 is a flange 12 towhich is bolted a cylinder block 13 having a series of overlapping bores14 and 15 which extend from the bottom of the block to the top thereof.The vertical bores 15 form the working surface ,1. for the pistons whilethe overlapping. bores 14 are provided with vertical partitions 16' foraccommodating ignition wires and the connecting rods for the pistons.

As illustrated in Figures III and IX, the cylinder 13 is provided with aseries of water jackets 17 on opposite sides of the working pistonswhile interconnecting water ackets18'are formed adjacent the overlappingVertical bores. At one end of the cylinder block 13 is provided apartition 19 which extends from the bottom of the cylinder block to thetop thereof for forming a housing for the 'valve gear driving chainwhich extends from the crank shaft to the cam shaft extendging acrossthe top of the cylinder block.

and the pistons.

Reciprocally mounted within each of the working cylinders 14 is a doubleacting piston 20 having a central dividing wall 21, which is providedwith a wrist pin bearing 22. Extending in opposite directions from thedividing wall 21 are piston skirts 23 havingon their peripheries aseries of rectangular cutaway portions 24. Between the rectangularcut-away portions 24 are a series of smaller rectangular cut-awayportions 25 which are adapted to contain a lubricating medium forreducing friction between the cylinder walls The inner periphery of eachpiston skirt. 23 is provided with a smooth working surface for receivinga plug-shaped cylinder head 27 having a series of circumferential slotsor grooves for receiving piston or packing rings 28. The packing rings28 are mounted on the lower portion of the plugshaped cylinder head 27in order that the travel of the piston 20 may. allow the skirted section23 thereof to work over the oil sealing rings 28 and form combustionchambers on opposite sides of the piston 20. It is to be understood,that the plug-shaped cylinder heads 27 are inserted in the working bores14 of the cylinder block 13 at the top and bottom thereof for formingopposite combustion chambers on opposite sides ofthe dividing partition21.

Passing through each wrist pin bearing 22 is a wrist pin 29 'havingtapered end portions 30 which are reduced and screw threaded as at 31for the reception of holding nuts 32' The conical or tapered portionsare received in corresponding openings 33 in the bosses 34 formed on theupper ends of the connecting rods 35. An opening 36 is also formed inthe opposite end of the boss 34 for. allowinga washer 37 to be passedover the screw threaded section 31 whereupon the holding nut 32 isthreaded thereon for rigidly con: necting the boss 34 to the wrist pin29. The lower ends of the connecting rods 35 are provided with crankshaft bearings 38 which are formed in section and held together in theusual manner by bolts 39 passing through bosses 40. vThe crank shaftdesignated by the reference character 41 is provided with oppositethrows 42 and 43 to which is secured the crank shaft bearings 38. Theends of the crank shaft 41 may be journaled in antifriction bearings 44in opposite ends of the crank case section 8 as'illustrated in Figure 1.

Each of the plug-shaped cylinder heads 27 is provided with a radiallyextending flange 47 having a downwardly turned annular flange 48 at theextremities thereof. The flange 48 is adapted to be seated upon the topwall of the cylinder'block 13 as illustrated in Figure V and to thebottom wall of the cylinder block also illustrated in Figure 5. Bolts orthe like may be provided for retain ing the plug-shaped cylinder heads27 in place whereby a plug-shaped cylinder head will be rigidlycarriedat each end of each cylinder. Each plug-shaped cylinder headwalsocomprises a partition 49 having downwardly extending tubular members 50open at their bottoms and screw threaded to receive :a conventional formof spark plug 51. The downwardly extending tubular members 50 aremounted relative to the partition 49 .adjacent the walls of theplug-shaped cylinder head 27.

At right angles to the downwardly extending tubular members 50 arearranged intake and exhaust valves 52 and 53, respectively, which havetheir guide stems 54 and 55 slidably mounted in blocks 56 and 57,respectively. The blocks 56 and 57 are supported by the partition 49while the intake and exhaust chambers 59 and 60 are also formed integralwith the partition 49 and depend downwardly therefrom. The intakechamber 59 communicates with an intake port 61 formed in the upperportion of the plug-shaped cylinder head while the exhaust chamber 60communicates with an exhaust port 62 by means of communicating channelways extending downwardly through the plug-shaped cylinder heads 27.

The valve operating mechanism includes a rocker arm shaft 63 extendingacross the top of the cylinder block 13 and a rocker arm shaft 64extending across the bottom of the cylinder block having supportingmeans such as fulcrum supports 65 and 66, respectively,

*hich may be mounted on top of the plugshaped cylinder heads 27 or maybe formed integral with the cylinder block as illustrated in Figure IIwherein the bearings for the rocker arm shaft 63 are illustrated as at67 and 68 whereby the ends of the rocker shaft 63 may be journaled inthe bearings 67 and 68, respectively, for supporting the same. Atspacedintervals on the rocker arm shaft 63 are cams operating rocker arms 69and 70 for the intake and exhaust valves, respectively, which areadapted to operate push rods 71 which have their lower ends bearingagainst the lower rocker arm 69 for causing the alternate opening andclosing of the intake and exhaust valves 54 and 55. WVhile the lower setof intake and exhaust valves 54 and 55 are operated by the push rods 71the upper set of the intake and exhaust valves are operated by correctlypositioned cam members 74 rigidly secured to a cam shaft 73 which hasits ends journaled in anti-friction bearings 77 adjacent the cam shaftbearings 67 and 68. One end-of the cam shaft 7 3 extends through theanti-friction bearing 7 7 in the cylinder block and is provided with asprocket wheel 78 over which is adapted to pass a sprocket chain 79 foroperative connection to a sprocket wheel 80 rigidly secured to the crankshaft 41. It will be readily observed that the vertical opening 81 inthe cylinder block 13 through which the sprocket chain 79 passes forms aconvenient housing for the same and that power or rotary motion appliedto the cam shaft 73 by means of the sprocket chain 79 causes the cammember 74 to engage the valve stems 54 and 55 of the upper set of intakeand exhaust valves 54 and 55, respectively, are operated by the pushrods 71 communicating reciprocatin-g motion between the upper and lowerrocker arms 69.

Intake and exhaust manifolds may be attached to the intake and'exhaustports 61 and 62, respectively, and these may be of any form desired toaccomplish the desired results.

The ignition timing system may be operated from the sprocket chain 79 bymeans of a timing sprocket gear ,83 engaging the sprocket chain 79 whilea water pump may be operated from the sprocket chain 79 by means of asprocket wheel 84 also engaging the sprocket chain 79.

For a consideration of the operation of the invention attention isdirected to Figure IV wherein is illustrated more or less a diagrammatic arrangement of the position of thepistons for the order of theirfunctioning. The crankshaft 41 is rotated by a starter motor or the likein order to cause fuel to be drawn into the combustion chamber on eitherside of the partition 21 through the intake valve 52. The gas iscompressed on the reverse movement of the pistons and it is fired by thespark plug 51 whereby the exhaust valve 53 operates to exhaust theburned gases. This cycle of operation is intended to be carried out onopposite sides of the partition 21 alternately in order that the uppercombustion chamber will be drawing in the gas or fuel supply while thelower combustion chamber is being exhausted and on the up stroke of thepiston 26 the fuel in the upper combustion chamber will be compressedwhile a fresh charge of fuel is being drawn into the lower combustionchamber. At this point an explosion occurs causing an impulse to beapplied to the crank throws of thecrank shaft 43 and causing compressionof the fuel supply in the lower combustion chamber whereby the same isexploded by the spark plug 51 causing the upward travel of the piston 23and the exhaust of the gas occurs upon the next downward travel of thepiston. This cycle of operation maybe timed as desired to 7 provide theadvantages of a four cycle type of engine or a two cycle type employingscavenging means, not shown.

It is to be understood, that various forms of valve systems or ignitionsystems may be employed with this type of engine and that no claim ismade for the particular form of valve gearing or ignition system and thesame is merely shown for the purpose of illustration in accordance withthistype of engine. It is also to be understood that various changes inthe shape, size and arrangement of the parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoinedclaims.

Having thus described the invention, What I claim is:

1. An internal combustion engine of the character described, comprisinga crank case, a crank shaft extending longitudinally through the crankcase, a cylinder block mounted on the crank case, vertical cylindersformed in spaced relation in the cylinder block, said cylinders beingoverlapped by vertical bores, a piston reciprocably mounted in each ofthe cylinders, oppositely extending skirt portions formed on each of thepistons, a removable cylinder head for each of the cylinders having anextension formed integral therewith extending into the cylinder and intothe skirted portions of the pistons, packing rings mounted on the lowerend of the cylinder head extension for forming a combustion chamber onopposite sides of the pistons, intake and exhaust valves having com- 4sion and exhaust of the per portion of the cylinder heads,

municating ports located in the cylinder head extensions, a wrist pinfor each of the pistons, a connecting rod connected to each end of thewrist pin for being connected to the crank shaft, said connecting rodsextending through the overlapping bores in the cylinder block, sparkplugs mounted in the cylinder head extensions, and timing mechanism forcausing the correct intake, compression, explomotive fluid whereby thepistons will be reciprocated and the crank shaft will be caused torotate.

2. An internal combustion engine of the character described, comprisinga crank case, a crank shaftextending longitudinally of the crank caseand having its ends journaled therein, a cylinder block mounted rigidlyto the crank case, said cylinder block having a series of overlappingvertical bores, a partition for every other vertical bore, a pistonreciprocably mounted in one of the vertical bores between thepartitions, oppositely extending skirt portions formed on each of thepistons, a removable cylinder head for each of the working cylinders, anextension formed on each of the cylinder heads extending into theworking cylinders and into the skirted portions of the pistons, packingrings carried by the ex tensions of the cylinder heads for engaging theinner periphery of the skirted portions of the pistons, a wrist pin foreach of the pistons, a connecting rod connecting the wrist pins to thecrank shaft, said connecting rods extending into the overlappingvertical bores of the cylinder block adjacent to the partition, intakeand exhaust valves mounted within the extensions of each of the cylinderheads, corresponding ports for the intake and exhaust valvescommunicating with the up spark plugs mounted in the extensions of there movable cylinder heads, water spaces formed in the cylinder block fordissipating the heat thereof, and timing mechanism for causing theintake and exhaust valves to open and close with the cycle of theengine.

3. An internal combustion engine of the character described, comprisinga sectional crank case, a crank shaft extending longitudinally of thecrank case and having its ends journaled therein, a cylinder blockmounted upon the crank case having a series of overlapping verticalbores, a vertically extending partition between every other verticalbore whereby a working cylinder will be provided having slotted wallscommunicating with a vertical housing portion, a piston reciprocablymounted in each of the working cylinders, oppositely extending skirtsformed on the pistons a removable cylinder head inserted in the top andl30t-i0ll1 of the cylinder block, an inwardly extending extensionformedon each of the cylinder heads adapted to extend into the cylinderand into the skirted portion of each of the pistons, piston ringscarried by the lower portion of the extensions adapted to form an airtight sliding connection between the skirted portions of the'pistons andthe extensions of the cylinder heads, intake and exhaust valves mountedin the lower portion of the extensions, communicating chambers withinthe cylinder head extensions for allowing theinflow and outflow of thegases, spark plugs mounted in the cylinder head extensions, a wrist pinfor each of the pistons, a connecting rod having one of its endsconnected to the wrist pin and its opposite end connected to a throw ofthe crank shaft, whereby the connecting rod will be housed in thevertical overlapping bore in the cylinder block, lubricant retainingopenings'formed in the outer periphery of the piston skirt sectionswhereby the surface between the cylinder block and the outer peripheryof the piston skirted sections will be lubricated, water openings formedadjacent the cylinders within the cylinder block for dissipating theheat from the cylinders, and timing" mechanism for causing the correctopening and closing of the intake and exhaust valves.

4. An internal combustion engine of the character described, comprisinga crank case, a crank shaft extending longitudinally of the crank casehaving its ends journaled therein, a cylinder block mounted on the crankcase having a series of overlapping vertical bores, a separatingpartition extending across alternating vertically extending cylinderbores whereby adjoining housings are formed opposite each workingcylinder, a piston reciprocably mounted within each working cylinder andhaving oppositely extending skirt portions, lubricant openings formed inthe outer peripheral'walls of the piston and piston skirt sections forlubricating the surface between the working cylinder and the piston, awrist pin carried by the piston having its ends extending into thevertical housing adjacent the partition, each wrist pin having connectedto its end a connecting rod adapted to lie in the same plane with thepartition and in the housings, the opposite end of the connecting rodbeing adapted to be secured to similar throws of the crank shaft, aremovable cylinder head for each end of the working cylinder, anextension formed on each of the cylinder heads extending into thecylinder and into the skirted portion of the pistons, piston packingrings carried by the lower end of each of the extensions adapted to sealthe lower end of the extension within the skirted portion of thepistons, intake and exhaust valves carried by the lower portion of thecylinder head extensions, ports and chambers for each of the valvescommunicating with the upper portion of the cylinder heads adapted to beassociated with corresponding manifolds, and spark plugs mounted in thecylinder head extensions.

5. An internal combustion engine of the character described, comprisinga sectional crank case, a crank shaft having its ends journaled in onesection of the crank case, a cylinder block having a series of verticaloverlapping bores mounted on the crank case, a piston reciprocablymounted within each of the alternate overlapping bores, lubricantopenings formed on the piston, oppositely extending skirt sectionsformed on the piston, a wrist pin extending through the piston, aconnecting rod for each end of the wrist pin having one of its endssecured thereto and its opposite end secure to a double throw of thecrank shaft, whereby each of the connecting rods will be housed withinalternate vertical bores in the cylinder block, a removable cylinderhead for each of the working cylinders of the cylinder block, aninwardly extending cylindrical member formed integral with each of thecylinder heads, a partition mounted within the cylindrical memberadapted to form a support for valve gearing, said valve gearingincluding intake and exhaust valves suitably journaled in the partition,intake and exhaust ports communicating with the intake and exhaustvalves, and spark plugs mounted in the partitions.

6. An internal combustion engine of the character described, comprisinga crank case, a crank shaft having its ends journaled in the crank case,a cylinder block having overlapping vertical bores open at both ends,alternate bores being provided with transverse partitions, pistonsreciprocably mounted in the other bores, oppositely extending skirtsformed on the pistons, a cylinder head for each open end of the workingcylinders having an extension projecting into the cylinder and into thepiston skirts, valve gearing and ignition mechanism arranged in thecylinder head extensions, and connections between the crank shaft andpistons.

In testimony whereof I affix m signature.

FRA FRITZ.

